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New Zealand's Ryan Fox may have won this year's British Open, but Bryson DeChambeau certainly stole the show.
After a strong performance on Friday afternoon, DeChambeau seemed to be in great position for the weekend at 7-under par and in second place before tournament officials pulled him aside to discuss a potential rules violation.
It turned out that DeChambeau had trampled some of the tall grass that surrounded his errant tee shot on Royal Birkdale's fifth hole.
Rules officials eventually determined that DeChambeau had violated Rule 8.1, which "Restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke."
A resulting two-shot penalty dropped DeChambeau from second-place into a tie for fifth, and he was understandably upset. I'm sure that no golfer would have been happy, but the way DeChambeau handled himself during the entire situation was out of line.
An initial, strong disagreement by DeChambeau was followed by a 20-minute argument at the site of the infraction. Later, tournament officials and DeChambeau met behind closed doors, and reports are that DeChambeau became very animated in arguing his case before the two-shot penalty was confirmed.
It was reported that DeChambeau had told officials he would not play over the weekend if the penalty stood. Later, he stated he would actually make his decision by the following morning.
The entire episode made DeChambeau look childish.
Sure, the penalty was a tough decision. Tournament officials even admitted their belief that DeChambeau's actions were not intentional. However, I can't think of another professional golfer who would have acted in such a theatrical and immature way.
While some professionals defended DeChambeau's character, many others were fairly outspoken against him, including Rory McIlroy.
"I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson, I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it's performance. I think a lot of it's for attention," McIlroy said. "I don't feel like it's a great look."
Later, golf writer Geoff Shackleford reported that DeChambeau had actually requested he be allowed to call President Trump in an attempt to intervene on his behalf when the penalty was being considered.
The request was denied.
Commentator Johnson Wagner was another who added his comments while speaking on CBS' Scorecard afterward.
"For him to go back out there and make the scene in which he did, I found it incredibly childish," Wagner said. "I thought it was disgraceful."
DeChambeau eventually finished in a tie for 14th place, six shots behind the winner.
Philipsburg Junior event
The Philipsburg Elks Country Club has scheduled a great event for junior golfers in our area. On Aug. 4, head pro Paul Fischer will be hosting the Elks Jr. "Golf Shoot," free of charge for junior golfers in our area.
Please call the Philipsburg Elks pro shop for details at 814-342-1114.
125 years ago
During the fourth week of July in 1901, the Bedford Springs resort reported that new head pro Charles Thom had set a new course record.
Thom, a young pro from Scotland, had just completed the 2,325-yard, nine-hole course in an amazing 35 strokes. Hotel officials were offering expenses and a purse of $25 to any golfer who would come to the Springs and beat Thom.
Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at GLTR777@atlanticbb.net.